Dulcimer Building Class with luthier, Jon Williams

Hi all....

I am so excited having just spent 8 days with my luthier, Jon Williams, in his dulcimer building class. He gives it once a year at the Stephen Foster Folk Cultural Center State Park in White Springs, FL. We started Sunday, the 2nd and were supposed to be finished by Fri afternoon for the start of the Dulcimer Retreat at the park. Jon starts you out with a stack of wood that he has prepared for each individual and leads you through the design and build process. I could go on and on about how much fun it was, but the bottom line is that my dulcimer turned out to be a beautiful instrument and I had it playing that Friday afternoon for the retreat. 8 of the 9 dulcimers were done and playable by the Sat night concert.

She is made from the cherry and maple which I brought down from NH this fall and Jon added a wenge overlay on the fretboard and a stripe down the tailpiece, up the back and through the peghead.

Two of the best dulcimer players I know about were at the festival and she has now been blessed by each of them playing her. What a thrill hearing her in their hands!

This winter, now that I have luthier experience, I will build some more dulcimers. Check out the blessings..........